ARTBA Supports Three Bills to Shift More Regulatory Oversight to States

By Nick Goldstein, vice president of regulatory and legal issues, ARTBA

Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) has introduced three bills to shift more regulatory responsibilities from the federal government to state agencies. The measures impact key decisions regarding the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Clean Water Act (CWA), and historical preservation.

The concept of Cornyn’s bills is similar to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) delegation. In an April 27 letter of support, ARTBA pointed out that the measures will “help to continue reducing unnecessary delay in building our nation’s transportation infrastructure without sacrificing necessary environmental safeguards.”

The three bills now head to Senate committees. ARTBA will continue to monitor their progress.